Can opener



Oct. 30, 1951 I M, LA FORTE 2,573,030

CAN OPENER Filed April' 5, 1947 gnaw/14 1 Jaw Z9 Patented Oct. 30, 1951 CAN OPENER Michael J. La. Forte, .Park .Ridge, 111., assignor to Vaughan Mfg. 00., a corporation of Illinois Application April 3, 1947, Serial No. 739,101

3 Claims.

The :present invention relates to can openers and more particularly to an opener having :an improved guiding means.

This invention is concerned with can openers of the type incorporating a feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable feed wheel arranged to :be engaged with the underside of the can head and a knife or disccutter mounted on the opener base so as to be brought against and to pierce and-sever the can top adjacent the can bead as the feed wheel is rotated. These openers include some guiding means engageable with the can, usually the top of the can bead, to locate the .cutter relative to the feed wheel so that the opener will move along the bead and the cutter simultaneously will sever the can top. This type of opener is sometimes difficult to operate because the same opener is used on cans of all sorts and sizes having beads of varying vertical thickness. Often cans are encountered where the bead has been damaged or is irregular and thus presents an obstruction in the ,path of the guiding means.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a new and improved 'lcan opener having a .novel guiding means which overcomes the aforementioned difficulties.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved can opener having .a base plate formed with improved guide means for engaging the can during a cutting operation to guide the opener with respect to the can .and control the degree of penetration of the cutter.

A further object is to provide a can opener :having a base plate formed with a novel guiding means for engaging the can bead during the cutting operation which includes an arm extending from the base plate and an opposed arm connected to the first arm remote from and extending toward the base plate resiliently to engage the can.

A further object of the invention is the previs'ion of a new and improved can opener which is adaptable for use on cans of various sizes and shapes.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved can opener of generally simplified construction which may be made almost entirely from metal stampings and may be readily assembled to form the completed opener so that the cost of manufacture 'is reduced without impairing the durability and proper functioning of the opener.

These and other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will appear from the .2 following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the front side of a can opener constructed in accordance with this invention with the feeding mechanism in inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the can opener with the feeding mechanism in operative position; and

Fig. 3 is a developed view of the stamping from which the base plate of the can opener is formed.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the can openerof the present invention comprises essentially a base plate '68 pivotally supporting a disc cutter l4 and a feeding mechanism l6, which is slidable or rockab'le with respect to the base plate 68. This feeding mechanism is also rotatable in a clockwise directionascseen in Fig. l, and such rotation first raises the feeding mechanism into engagement with aperipheral bead [8 on the top edge of :the can, and, upon continued rotation in this direction, the base plate 68 and disc cutter l4 secured thereto are drawn downwardly with respect to the can a sufiicient distance to cause the cutter to pierce the top of the can. Further rotation of the feeding mechanism the same direction causes the can opener to be drawn forwardly along the bead of the can. As the opener moves forward, the disc cutter severs the can top closely adjacent the peripheral bead .and :folds the severed edge downwardly against thesi-de wall of the .can in a manner which will be explained in greater .detail hereinafter.

The base plate 68 is preferably made "from a .sheetmetal stamping 10' of generally rectangular outline in plan-as shown in Fig. 1. Along its bottom edge the stamping is provided with a lug 12 which is bent-inwardly at right angles to the :main :hody of :the base to form a bottom guide for engaging the :side wall of a can .during a cutting operation, .as :shown in Fig. .2 to maintain the base plate inclined to the side of the can and thus hold the disc cutter at the :most effective angle for severing the top.

A pair of marginal extensions 72 and 1B are formed on the upper edge of the stamping .20 :and these extensions are also bent inwardly at right angles to the main body of the stamping. When the feeding mechanism It is turned in a feeding direction and draws the can opener for- Ward with respect to the can, these extensions l4 and 16 act .as guides and ride upon the top edge of the peripheral head of the scan to control the :degree of penetration of the :cutting disc. Itwill be noted that the rear guide 16 is longer than the forward guide 14 so that this rear guide will continue to engage the bead on the can even though the base plate is turned at a sharp angle as the can opener moves around a can of relatively small diameter or around the sharply curved corner of a generally rectangular can.

As seen most clearly in Fig. 3 the extension or guide 16 is of U-shaped with an inner stem or arm 18 integral with the stamping but the outer stem or arm 80 severed from the main body and separated therefrom by a slot. As described above, this extension is bent inwardly at right angles to the main body of the stamping along the dotted line and the free end of the stem or arm 80 is bent downwardly slightly below the plane of the arm 18, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Because of its construction the stem 80 is slightly resilient. When this can opener is in use the stem or arm 80 rides along the top of the peripheral bead [8 of the can. Operation of the opener is facilitated because the resilient stem or arm 80 accommodates for irregularities in the height of can bead upon which the opener is engaged. This construction of the guide means adapts the opener for use on cans having'end beads of different heights.

A rectangular lug 28 also formed along the top edge of the stamping 10 is bent inwardly at an angle inclined both to the vertical and the horizontal along the diagonal dash lines indicated in Fig. 3 so that it is canted, both downwardly and lengthwise, with respect to the plane of the base plate l2 as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The base plate is also provided with an embossed projection or abutment stop 30 and a generally segmental shaped cam slot 32 cut in the main body of the stamping for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

The feeding mechanism 16 includes a toothed feed wheel 34 formed with an integral laterally projecting stud 36 having a rounded portion 31 which extends through and is journaled in the slot 32. The stud 36 terminates in a flattened end portion 39 to which an operating handle 38 is secured. This handle may be made from a stamping of irregular shape formed with a generally S-shaped central portion, as shown in Fig. 1, to provide a shank 40 for the handle and integral oppositely disposed portions extending from this S-shaped portion. These extending portions are bent upwardly at right angles to the shank 40 to form wings 42 which may be grasped between the thumb and fingers when it is desired to rotate the feeding mechanism. The wings may be provided with openings if desired so that the opener can be suspended from a hook when it is not in use.

Also secured upon the flattened portion of the stud 36 between the front side of the base plate and the shank of the handle 38 is a cam 44 which may be stamped from sheet metal and is nonrotatable upon the stud 36. One edge 46 of this cam is formed as a semicircle of relatively large diameter while the edge opposite thereto has a depression 48 formed between a rounded edge portion 50 of relatively small diameter merging into the edge 46 and an elongated edge 52 which extends downwardly from the depression for a short distance and then is curved to merge into the curved edge 46, as seen in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the parts of the feeding mechanism are secured together in such a manner that the inner side of the feed .wheel 34 .is held in close engagement with the back side of the base plate 68, while the back side of the cam 44 is maintained in close engagement with the front side of the base plate. However, these parts are sumciently spaced on the stud 36 to permit the entire assembly to rotate freely in the slot 32 and also slide therein so that the assembly may be readily rocked from end to end of the slot 32.

Severing of a can top is effected by the disc cutter I4 which is rotatably secured upon a shouldered pin 56 fixedly mounted in the lug 28 upon an axis normal thereto by any conventional means, such as peening over the tip of the reduced end of the pin against the front face of the lug. The disc cutter I4 is prevented from axial movement by a head on that end of the pin 56 opposite the lug 28.

A cutting edge 38 is formed on the disc cutter by beveling both the flat outer face of the cutter along the periphery, as indicated at 58 in Fig. 2, and the tapered inner face 62. Because of the canted position into which the cutter supporting lug 28 is bent, the forward edge of the cutter is inclined toward the peripheral bead on the can and the lower portion of the inner tapered face 62 of the cutter is approximately in a vertical plane. This positioning of the cutter causes it to be urged toward the bead of the can when the opener is being used so that the forward edge of the cutter severs the can top closely adjacent the peripheral bead, and its tapered inner face 62 folds the severed edge of the can top down against the side wall of the can.

Means are provided for automatically returning the feeding mechanism to inoperative position when the opener is removed from a can after severing of the top has been completed and for holding it in this position. For this purpose a generally segmental shaped tensioned leaf spring 64 is rigidly secured to the front of the base plate 68 by means of a headed pin 66 fixedly secured in the lower left-hand corner of the base plate as seen in Fig. 1. One end of the spring 64 is fixed to the fixed pin 56 and the free end of this spring is rolled or beaded at its tip and engages upon the edge of the cam 44. Due to the fact that it is tensioned, this spring exerts a force on the cam generally in a clockwise direction (Fig. l) and as a result the feeding mechanism is urged toward the lower end of slot 32 which is its inoperative position.

In this position of the feeding mechanism, shown in Fig. 1, the bottom of the depression 48 in the edge of the cam engages upon the abutment 30 and the spring 64 engages upon the rounded surface 46 of the cam. The force exerted by the spring holds the feeding mechanism relatively firmly in this position so that it will not be dislodged even though the opener is hung upon a hook by means of one of the openings in the wing handle (not shown), or it is picked up by this handle. While it is in this position and without further manipulation or adjustment, it may readily be placed on a can with the disc cutter resting on the top of the can and the guide 12 engaging against the side wall of the can so that the base plate is maintained at an angle to the side wall of the can.

Due to the fact that the abutment 38 is engaged in the depression 48 and the relatively long edge 52 of the cam extends below the abutment the feeding mechanism is locked against counterclockwise rotation because upon attempted movement of the mechanism in this direction the edge 52 riding on the abutment would tend tov force the feeding mechanism downwardly and toward the left, but since the rounded part of the stud 36 is engaged in the bottom of the slot 32, such movement is impossible and as a result the feeding mechanism is locked against rotation in a counterclockwise or nonfeeding direction. However, when the operating handle is turned in a clockwise direction, the short rounded edge 59 of the cam 44 first engages the abutment 30, and, as the handle is turned, this edge riding on the abutment causes the entire feeding mechanism to slide upwardly and toward the left in the slot 32, as seen in Fig. 1, so that the feed wheel is brought into engagement with the bottom edge of the peripheral bead N3 of the can. Further clockwise rotation of the feeding mechanism results in a continued upward force being exerted thereon which in turn causes the base plate 68 to be drawn downwardly a sufficient distance to cause the top of the can to be pierced by the disc cutter l4. Downward movement of the base plate of the opener is limited by the guides 14 and 16 which engage upon the top edge of the peripheral bead of the can when the base plate has moved downwardly sufficiently to cause the disc cutter to pierce the top of the can. As explained above, the resilient stem 80 of the guide 16 compensates for differences in can bead heights so that the opener may be used on cans of various sizes.

Upon further rotation of the feeding mechanism in the same direction, the rounded portion of the stud 36 engages in the topend of a cam slot 32 and the feed wheel 34 engaging along the bottom edge of the peripheral bead l8 draws the can opener forwardly along the edge of the can toward the left, as seen in Figs. 1 to 3, or with the guides 14 and 16 riding on the top of the can bead and the resilient stem 80 accommodating any bead irregularities. the disc cutter rotates, and the edge 60 severs the top of the can in a smooth out adjacent the inner edge of the bead I8. The severed edge is folded downwardly along the side wall of the can by the tapered side 62 of the disc cutter.

While the can opener has been described as being provided with a disc cutter it will be obvious that the improved guiding means incorporated in the opener could be used on openers provided with bayonet type cutters. It will also be apparent that numerous other variations and modifications may be made in the opener Without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. I, therefore, desire, by the following claims, to include within the scope of the invention all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of my invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim:

1. In a can opener for severing the end of a can, a body member, can engaging opener driving means rotatable relative to said body mem- As the opener moves,

her for effecting relative movement between said can and opener in a direction to sever the end of the can, and resilient means including an arm fixed to and extending from said body member and an opposed arm connected to the first arm remote from the body member and extending toward said body member in position to engage the edge of the can on one side of the axis of said driving means for limiting rocking movement of said body member when said driving means is rotated.

2. In a can opener for severing the end of a can, a body member, can engaging opener driving means rotatable relative to said body member for effecting relative movement between the can and the opener in a, direction to sever the end of the can, and means for limiting rocking movement of said body member when said driving means is rotated, said means comprising a U-shaped extension fixed to said body member by only one arm thereof, the closed end of said extension being remote from said body member so that the second arm of said extension projects toward said body member, said second arm being adapted resiliently to engage and ride on the edge of the can on one side of the axis of said driving means.

3. In a can opener for severing the end of a can, a body member, can engaging opener driving means rotatable relative to said body member for effecting relative movement between the can and the opener in a direction to sever the end of the can, and means for limiting rocking movement of said body member when said driving means is rotated, said means comprising a U-shaped extension fixed to said body member by only one arm thereof, the closed end of said extension being remote from said body member so that the second arm of said extension projects toward said body member, said second arm being bent downwardly slightly below the plane of said first arm resiliently to engage and ride on the edge of the can on one side of the axis of said driving means.

MICHAEL J. LA FORTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,826,324 Ormsby Oct. 6, 1931 1,914,738 Elster June 20, 933 2,090,382 Zaremba Aug. 17, 1937 2,190,940 Frins Feb. 20, 1940 2,361,561 Mueller Oct. 31, 1944 2,438,376 Squires Mar. 23, 1948 2,466,117 McLean Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 415,231 Great Britain Aug. 23, 1934 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,573,030 October 30, 1951 Column 2, line 46, for extensions 72 read ewtenszo'ns 74; column 5, line 37, strike oat toward the left, as seen in lugs. 1 to 3, or; hne 45, after the (1180 en folded down, no roug edges are present in theppened can upon and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same {nay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Otfice.

SIgned and sealed thxs 19th day of February, A. D. 1952. 

